Genetics Weekend Assignment: Examining DNA Profiling
Task 1: The Case of Baby 81
Read these stories from BBC news about the 4 month old baby found after the Asian Tsunami and
who was claimed by nine couples. Then answer the questions that follow…
BBC News. DNA Test on Disputed Baby. Online at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4248681.stm
BBC News. Tsunami ‘Baby 81’ goes back home. Online at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4269453.stm
Link about DNA Profiling: http://www.beep.ac.uk/content/186.0.html
 Discuss how the ‘DNA testing’ described in these articles would have been carried out. You
would need to check out the DNA profiling link to go deep into your discussion (10 marks)
Task 2: Applications to DNA profiling
Check out this link about DNA Profiling. Then answer the questions that follow:
Link about APPLICATIONS TO DNA PROFILING: http://www.beep.ac.uk/content/351.0.html
 Should UK Police aim to build a national database of DNA records for everyone found guilty of
a serious crime? If no, why not? Can you justify your answer?
If yes, should they include the DNA records of everybody sampled in the process of
investigating a current crime in order to build up a national resource to use in identifying the
person responsible for a future crime? Why?
 Find out what DNA records the police currently maintain. Bring in an article about the
controversy of criminal DNA profiling. Prepare to discuss it with the class.